I Went Shoe Shopping!

I went shoe shopping today.

OH MY WORD!

There are no shoes in the entire city of Seoul that FIT ME! Most of the time, the women's shoes are too small and the men's shoes are too big. I'm right in the middle; stuck in shoe purgatory!

Also, most of the women's shoes have heels on them. Even tennis shoes. I really should have taken some pictures of them because... seriously... the tennis shoes have heels! I can't tell you how many times my co-workers and my adult students have commented on my height. I'm so tall and being tall is very "attractive" and a good thing here. I just feel like a giant; the last thing I want are heels!

Besides, I fall down on a fairly regular basis without wearing heels! I can't imagine what would happen if I started to wear heels... I'd have to wear body armour.

Every time I walk outside, I feel like I'm going to die... it's SO cold here! I really shouldn't complain, it's probably colder in the U.S. But I think I'm outside a lot more often here than I am at home.

Today, after lunch I hopped on the bus to go home, and it was just so warm and comfy on the bus, I decided to stay on past my stop. NO, I DID NOT FALL ASLEEP ON THE BUS!! I was just merely enjoying the warm and quiet atmosphere.

I ended up going to Myeong-dong to look for shoes... and didn't find any.

So, I continued on my way to Dongdaemun Stadium to look some more. I had the funnest time with this woman who was bound and determined to sell me a pair of shoes -- any shoes. I actually liked a pair that she had, but she was asking 50$ for them.

Here's how the conversation went, and keep in mind, most of it was in Korean... but somehow we were both able to make ourselves understood!

"58,000$ but no! Discount! 50,000$!!" She punches the numbers into a calculator and shoves the calculator at me.
"Hmm. What about those?" I point to another pair of shoes.
"Same, same! You think good price? What price you think?" She jabs at the calculator in my hands.
"Umm... 40,000$"
"Oh no, no.... 45,000$ Maybe, how 45,000$?" She snatched the calculator back and punched in the price again.
"Hmm. I don't know. There a little big. BIG? Do you have smaller ones?"
"Smaller, no! Bigger, yes! Bigger?"
"No. What about these?"
"Same, same!"

I continued to complain and wander around. She follows me all around suggesting different shoes and the moment I drift away from her area, she yells and points and another pair of shoes that she thinks I'll like. She was suggesting so many and being so pushy, I decided to be pushy right back. She would hold up a shoe and I would just shove it away. She thought that was hilarious! She kept cajoling and "helping" me, I got such a kick out of her!

Finally, I decided on a pair that I wanted (even though I thought they were a little too big) and she asked me what price I would pay.

"40,000$"
"Ahhhh! You aleoifaefa aoeif adfo ae wa;df wer aoheoahf* Ohh hahahaha! Ok!" And she bagged them up and gave them to me!

Fun.

Then I went to ANOTHER part of town and bought some books... of course!

By the time I got home, I was frozen solid and I nearly fell asleep at 8 p.m. I wish I would have. It's like I missed my window, because it's now 12:37 a.m. and I'm not tired at all!

SIGH!

Prayer for wisdom and guidance would be much appreciated! I LOVE you!

Hil

*Note: this is my way of writing in Korean! Basically she just spoke a bunch of Korean that I took to mean, "You're a clever little booger, but I like you and you've got me, so Ok. 40,000!"